Three Bridges 3 Hythe Town 4: Bridges suffer second half disaster

Bridges had a disastrous second half as they let slip a 3-1 lead before losing 4-3 at home to Hythe Town.

They looked like certainties to take the three points following goals by Ben Godfrey, Lee Carney and an own goal.

Lee Carney, Three Bridges FC. Pic Steve Robards SUS-150223-120726001

But after the break their defensive frailties surfaced as they conceded three goals without adding to their first half tally.

Manager Paul Faili made just one change to the side which beat Horsham 4-3 in another seven-goal thriller last week, bringing in Matt Whitehead at left back for Williams Peauroux who had an injured toe.

Godfrey gave them the lead in the ninth minute from the penalty spot after Jamie Crellin was brought down by Josh Burchell.

Hakeem Adelakun hit the crossbar from a free-kick before Crellin latched on to the loose ball.

Bridges made it 2-0 against the run of play on just 21 minutes when Hakeem rose up towards Godfrey’s threw-ball and Phil Stevenson went into the aerial challenge but ended up unluckily nodding into his own net.

Bridges continued to press as first Jamie Crellin struck a long-range effort well wide, then Sam MacVicar could not control an awkard bouncing through-ball to him and he headed over the bar.

Laurence Harvey pulled a goal back for the visitors from the edge of the box.

Then captain Carney struck a well-taken shot from outside the area into the net for 3-1 seconds before half-time.

But the Bridges talisman injured his hamstring in the process and had to hobble off the pitch.

Carney was replaced at half-time by substitute Nigel Brake who went on at left back and Matt Whitehead moved forward into midfield.

The changes seemed to unsettle Bridges who badly missed their skipper throughout the second half.

They made a terrible start after the break by conceding two goals within seven minutes.

Wells scored four minutes after the restart with a deflected shot from the edge of the area.

Thompson then levelled the score with a breakaway move having been played on by Crellin who appealled for offside in vain.

Crellin headed a chance off the Bridges goalline while at the other end Allan Tait was denied from a point-blank position by Hythe ‘keeper Roddy Hayward.

Hakeem also saw a powerful free-kick saved by the in-form keeper.

Hythe scored their winning goal in the 77th minute when a free-kick was missed by Martin Dynan and Welford put the ball past Kieron Thorp.

Hythe were reduced to ten men with just two minutes of normal time remaining for his second bookable offence.

Hakeem was denied again by Hayward and John Lansdale put a shot wide from Hakeem’s cross in a moved which was ruled offside.